Episode 20: Art Meets Engineering, User-First Exoskeleton with Melissa "Blue Eye Queen"

Thrilled to have Melissa DiVierti, aka "BLUE EYE QUEEN,"  join Dr. Tom Suggar, aka "Sugar Daddy Jetpack Tommy," and me, Bobby Marinov, aka "Therion," as we discuss how we can make exoskeleton technology look more colorful and accessible. It is no secret that the world of wearables and wearable robotics is dominated by men, with only a handful of the 100+ startups in the field being led by women. That has translated into the design aesthetics, creating metal and wires and walking robocops, which can be most unappealing to the general population. 

We are fortunate to have Melissa on this episode, as she is a triple-threat force of nature: an exo user, a person who can benefit from physical mobility aids, and someone with both an engineering degree and an art degree. We fill the hour with discussions from all points of view, from the practicality of exoskeletons to how to make them more appealing. This and much more on Episode 20 of the Exoskeletons and Wearable Robotics podcast:

Main Topics:
01:40 How did you discover this medical technology and the Shirly Ryan Rehabilitation Center?
05:12 Using the Biomotum device at the Shirly Ryan AbilitiyLab
11:05 Did the exoskeleton help you walk?
15:31 The perfect suit for sacral agenesis.
20:02 Home use availability?
22:08 Adding colors and visual customization to wearables.
28:48 What else do exoskeletons need?
37:54 We need more ladies working on and showcasing exo technology!
40:58 Combining prosthetics/orthotics with exoskeletons.
47:52 We need everyone, especially non-engineers with diverse perspectives.
56:34 Call to action: have exos on real people in real scenarios who don't already know you.

Follow Blue Eye Queen:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo6KWP81E4QglF3r1cNgYLA/videos
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissadivietri/
TED Talk: Melissa DiVietri: https://www.ted.com/talks/melissa_div...
Website https://melissadivietri.com/about/

For more information on exoskeletonst:
Exoskeleton Report: http://exoskeletonreport.com
Wearable Robotics Association: https://wearablerobotics.com

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